We have password-protected Excel files that LibreOffice will open (in read-only) without a password prompt. When you hit the Edit File button, it removes the read-only status, but the file still cannot be edited. Is there a way for LibreOffice to honor the password protection so random users cannot view files they aren't supposed to?
We have a mix of LibreOffice versions, most are 3.5-3.6.
Thanks for your help!
answered 2012-08-29 16:03:15 +0200
This post is a wiki. Anyone with karma >750 is welcome to improve it.
MS Office 2010 password-protected files seem to work great with LibreOffice, so we're going to recreate the problem documents in MSO 2010. It appears the problem files were created in MS Office versions earlier than 2010.
mariosv, I'm totally confused by your comment "And please this is not a for free support service." To me help=support. Doesn't matter now as it is not relevant to the answer.
edit: I cannot accept my own answer as the best answer because I don't have the requisite point total. Hopefully I do not keep getting reminder emails to Accept the Best Answer when I cannot do so.
second edit: I keep getting emails from this site asking me to accept the best answer, but my own answer is the best answer and I cannot select my own answer because I don't have enough "points" according to the site. Can someone stop this madness? I don't need to keep getting nag emails from this site for something that is beyond my control.
After you hit "Edit File button" are you prompted to enter password for edit mode?
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Asked: 2012-08-22 23:15:33 +0200
Seen: 4,387 times
Last updated: Sep 05 '12
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What is the program used to save the password-protected file?
mariosv ( 2012-08-23 01:45:19 +0200 )editYou can very reliably protect your workbooks, if you keep them in their native format of LibreOffice (ODF). So reliably protect it that will not be able to open them, if you forget the password.
JohnSUN ( 2012-08-23 08:24:35 +0200 )editTimon,
When I hit Edit File button, I get the following message in a pop-up: "Readonly content cannot be changed. No modifications will be accepted." I don't get any opportunity to type in a password.
newkansan ( 2012-08-23 16:19:47 +0200 )editmariosv: the files were originally created in Excel.
newkansan ( 2012-08-23 16:23:33 +0200 )editJohnSUN: we are in a typical office env where we started off in MS Office, and are now supplementing with LO. Using native ODF format is not an option because the MS Off installs (mix of 2007 and 2010 versions) may have issues reading ODF fully plus no one wants to convert all those file formats.
newkansan ( 2012-08-23 16:27:33 +0200 )edit"because the MS Off installs..." "may have issues reading ODF..." "no one wants..." Excuse me, but do you really think that is it troubles of LibO?!!
JohnSUN ( 2012-08-23 17:47:42 +0200 )editLO strives for full backward compatibility with MSO. I'm trying to find a solution that works in our environment not start a debate on whose problem it is.
newkansan ( 2012-08-23 18:53:04 +0200 )editYes, I don't want start debate too.Your question was about "random users cannot view files they aren't supposed to".LO is one of many programs that ignores password protection of XLS-files. Therefore, your problem has no solution: if you teach LO ask for the password, the attacker could use another
JohnSUN ( 2012-08-23 20:31:11 +0200 )editI've come across an Excel document whose password prompt does work in LO so I know it should work. I need to figure out why some are working and some aren't. It may be the ones that don't work were originally made in Office 2003, which we no longer have any machines with.
newkansan ( 2012-08-23 23:26:10 +0200 )editEven MSO have not full compatibility through their versions. And please this is not a for free support service. People here are pleased to help between users. Take a look if you can disable read-only through Menu/File/Properties/Security.
mariosv ( 2012-08-24 01:03:02 +0200 )edit